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Joe Cole has featured in just six Premier League games for Liverpool this term (Picture: PA)

QPR have reportedly opened talks to bring Liverpool’s Joe Cole to Loftus Road on a loan deal with a view to a permanent switch.

Rangers boss Harry Redknapp managed Cole during his time at West Ham, guiding the former Chelsea man through the ranks and into the first team – and is now looking to reunite with the midfielder as he bids to build a squad capable of fighting relegation.

QPR currently sit rock bottom of the Premier League with just one win all season and Redknapp feels Cole, who has struggled to impress during his time at Liverpool, could help their survival hopes.

The 31-year-old, who was not included in the Reds squad for yesterday’s 3-0 defeat of the Hoops, moved to Anfield from Chelsea in 2010 and spent last season on loan at French side Lille.

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Any move away from Merseyside is likely to result in a big cut in Cole’s £100,000-a-week wages and the player has allegedly requested a £3.6million pay-off to quit the club with 18 months remaining on his contract.

Joe Cole could be moving back to London to rejoin former boss Harry Redknapp (Picture: Daily Mail)

It is an option the Liverpool hierarchy may wish to take in order to get Cole off the club’s wage bill and free up funds for boss Brendan Rodgers to utilise in January.

Redknapp, meanwhile, has said he is not looking to sell in the coming transfer window, insisting he needs all hands on deck to keep the Hoops away from the drop zone.

Alongside Cole, the west London club are also thought to be prioritising moves for strikers Loic Remy and Nicolas Anelka as well as pursuing deals for Chelsea midfielder Marko Marin and West Ham’s Mohamed Diame.